How to Store Audio Memories Safely: The 3-2-1 Rule

Imagine this: You have the only copy of your dad’s voice on your phone. You drop your phone in the ocean.

It’s a nightmare scenario, but it happens. Digital files feel permanent, but they are incredibly fragile. Hard drives fail, accounts get hacked, and phones get lost.

To protect your audio memories, you need to follow the 3-2-1 Backup Rule.

The 3-2-1 Rule

• 3 Copies of your data.
• 2 Different types of media.
• 1 Copy offsite.

Step 1: Create 3 Copies

Don't just have one file. Copy it.

• Copy 1: On your computer.
• Copy 2: On an external hard drive.
• Copy 3: In the cloud.

Step 2: Use 2 Different Media

If you have two copies on the same hard drive, and that drive fails, you lose both.

• Media 1: Your laptop's SSD.
• Media 2: A USB stick or external HDD.

Step 3: Keep 1 Copy Offsite

If your house floods or there is a fire, your computer and your backup drive might both be destroyed.

• The Cloud: Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud are perfect for this.
• EchoAgain: Uploading your voice data to EchoAgain acts as a secure, offsite backup designed specifically for voice preservation.

Organizing Your Archive

Don't just dump files in a folder called "Stuff."

1. Create a Master Folder: Name it "Family Audio Archive."
2. Subfolders by Person: "Dad," "Mom," "Grandma."
3. Clear Filenames: YYYY-MM-DD_Description.wav. (e.g., 2023-12-25_Dad_Christmas_Toast.wav).

Maintenance

Data rot is real. Files can become corrupted over time.

• Check your backups once a year. Open the files and make sure they still play.
• Migrate media. If you have files on a CD-ROM from 2005, move them to a hard drive now. CDs degrade.

Peace of Mind

Following these steps takes about 30 minutes, but it gives you peace of mind forever. Your memories are too important to leave to chance.

Secure your voice memories today with EchoAgain.